Thursday, April 26, 2012

The fourth phase of the Deployment Zone’s – Tamurkhan, Throne of Chaos Campaign has come to a close.

The fourth phase lasted two weeks and during that time there were 31 games reported and 58 participants.In the fourth phase Tamurkhan invades the Border Princes, ravaging the country side and slaughtering the smaller duchies.The now swollen Chaos horde travels towards the heart of the Empire and to Winter’s TeethPass.

Chaos managed to win this phase by a fairly overwhelming margin, the unique encounter really gave the Chaos Horde the upper hand from the get go.The campaign scenario provided only yielded 1 Opposition win out of the 7 battles fought using it.

Total Games Reported: 31

Total Opposition Wins/Points Total: 11 - 14 Campaign Points

Total Chaos Horde Wins/Points Total: 16 – 32 Campaign Points

Total Draws: 3Special Scenario played (The Tide of Ruin): 7

Narrative Battles: 1Storm of Magic: 0

Notable Battles during Phase 4:

2800 point Tide of Ruin – The Great Hunt of Athel Loren vs. Warriors of Chaos

The special scenario was played using my Wood Elves and well, I changed up the list to make it work for a Watchtower scenario so I threw the Lore of Life Spellweaver w/ the Rhymer’s Harp, the BSB with Hail of Doom Arrow and a unit of 40 Glade Guard with a Flaming Banner in the Watchthower .I had Treekin, Dryads and a Treeman defending the rest of the area. Unfortunately, 2800 points of Chaos using a huge unit of Chaos Knights will survive and slay just about anything =).Wood Elves were defeated to the man by turn 3.

3000 point Watchtower – Ogre Kingdoms vs. Vampire Counts

The nefarious Vampire Counts attempted to defeat the Ogres that were occupying the Watchtower with the Gnoblars of Destruction.The Vampire Counts could not break the Ogres and were defeated at the end of the game.Notable mentions – Level 3 Death Wizard w/ 5+ ward save defeats Level 4 Slaughtermaster w/ Fencer’s Blades and 4+ ward save in a challenge (apparently it took 3 rounds to do so).

2400 point Tide of Ruin – Skaven vs. Tomb Kings

The Tomb Kings took on the Skaven of Clan Pestilens. This was one win for the Opposition where the Tomb Kings and their Hierophant managed to stave off the Skaven Horde.The Tomb Kings using Carrion took out all the Skaven warmachines and managed to also take out the Jezzails granting a pretty impressive win for the Tomb Kings.

Phase 4 has resulted in a win for Chaos!The final outcome of winning each phase will be released when Phase 5 has completed and the final scenario has been released.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Finally glued the Tuskgor and Razorgor chariot together and attached them to their bases tonight.
Here are some images of the finished product. (I'll add some scorched tufts of grass later)
It bothers me how badly my camera washes out highlights that I spent so much time painting =(.
Perhaps this will prompt me to actually set up the photobox rather than be a lazy slacker who snaps off shots from his desk.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Chaos Horde tore through the Border Princes, rampaging and ravaging all in their path. It wasn’t until they reached Winter’s Teeth Pass that the great Tamurkhan almost felt defeat. The scenario represents the near-catastrophic series of ambushes Tamurkhan’s horde suffered while attempting to force their way through the deadly heights of Winter’s Teeth Pass.

Scenario Rules for Campaign Phase 5 – The Sundered Pass

Special Scenario: Sundered Pass (3 CP to the victor)

The Scenarios: (roll a D6 to determine what battle you play – or you may elect to play the Special scenario instead)

D6 Result

1-3 Battle for the Pass (1 CP to the victor – see the Warhammer Rulebook) 4 Meeting Engagement (1 CP to the victor – see the Warhammer Rulebook)

5 Heroic Last Stand* (2 CP to the victor – Chaos player always the one making the Last Stand)

6 Hold the High Ground* (2 CP to the victor) – Fought as a Grand Battle or a Storm of Magic scenario (2 CP to the victor) as chosen.

* - Narrative scenario from the Warhammer Rulebook

Special Rules:

Ambush!

This phase represents the darkest hour for the Chaos Horde forces in Tamurkhan’s saga as they are divided and trapped with nowhere to run. Regardless of the scenario being played one unit of the owning player’s choice in an Opposition army can be given the Ambushers special rule. The Chaos Horde player can reroll their first failed Panic Test.

Victory Effects: Victory effects will be listed when the final scenario is released.

Special Scenario:

The Sundered Pass

The scenario represents the near-catastrophic series of ambushes Tamurkhan’s horde suffered while attempting to force their way through the deadly heights of Winter’s Teeth Pass.

Armies: This scenario is for two players. The Chaos Horde represents the Defender, and the Opposition the Attacker. Each player chooses their army list from the Warhammer Army book to an agreed points value.Any Grand Battle of 3500 points or more should allow the Chaos Horde player to feel free to use the Great Host of Chaos rules if both sides agree.

The Battlefield: The battlefield is set up in an identical way to the Battle for the Pass scenario found on page 146 of the Warhammer Rulebook.With D6 pieces of scenery scattered along the length of the pass (in this case rock falls, ruins and pools are particularly appropriate, Mysterious scenery should not be used in this scenario).In the case of larger Grand Battle; a double sized tabled might be more appropriate.The long table edges represent the jagged and impenetrable rocks of the mountain pass (see Scenario special rules).

Deployment:Roll to see which player picks the half of the table they wish to deploy in. Their opponent deploys in the other half.Note the game in this case is played along the length of the table, rather than across it.

Units may be placed anywhere in their player’s half of the table that is more than 12” away from the center line.

Players take turns to place units on the table using the alternating method of deployment as described on page 142 of the Warhammer rulebook.

The Attacker, if they wish, may place a single unit per 1000 points of their army, of their choice (other than a character), in reserve and have them arrive later (see Sneaky Tricks in this scenario’s Special Rules)

First Turn: Roll off to see who has first turn.The player who finished deploying first receives a +1 to their roll.

Game Length: The game lasts for six turns or until an agreed upon time limit by players.

Victory Conditions:Standard victory conditions are used to determine the winner of the battle, and in addition any Defender units within 12” of the Attacker’s table edge at the end of the game (fleeing units do not count) gain a bonus of 100 Victory points each.

Scenario Special Rules:

Bottleneck:See page 146 of the Warhammer Rulebook.

Sneaky Tricks:

Attacker units held in reserve must enter the board from the otherwise impassable long table edges (they do not take dangerous terrain tests for entering only fleeing – also this represents them attacking after hiding in the caverns and ruins within the mountains).

Special Option: Night Goblin Attack!!!!

As a special variant of this scenario, if the Attacking force can be described as a Night Goblin army (i.e. it’s General is a Night Goblin character and its minimum Core units are made up of Night Goblins) then it gains a special bonus in the form of terrifying (and terrifyingly unpredictable) Colossal Squigs in the game if they have models for them.You can model these yourself using suitably large bases (such as an Arachnarok base) or make use of spurious pumpkins with angry faces painted on. Attackers receive one such Colossal Squig per 1000 points in their army. They are held in reserve and enter play as per a Sneaky Tricks unit as described previously.

Falls Apart: When a Colossal Squig dies, it collapses in a tide of offal and half-digested meat. Every model in base contact suffers a Strength 3 automatic hit.

Dinner’s Dinner!: When the Colossal Squiq’s random movement brings it into contact with a unit, either friend or foe, it will attack it normally as if it was an enemy, and counts as charging that unit. This combat will continue until resolved normally.These appalling creatures are too dull witted and hungry to care!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Here are a few pictures of the Wargor armed with the Brass Cleaver on a Razorgor Chariot that I'm using in this year's OFCC Beastmen list. All of these models were painted with the new GW line and I have to say I am 100% impressed with the paints. They go on very, very smoothly.

I will be going on and on about them on the next Deployment Zone podcast episode 13.

Anyway - it's late so I'm going to toss up a few pictures and then do an expansive post later.

I have to finish painting the actual chariot and do a little bit of touching up on the Razorgor and the Wargor.

They will be cut off these bases and then glued to their Deadlands bases.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Having spent the past 3 weeks painting a single unit - batch painting style... I am pre-maturely saying I am done with the unit (prior to basing them on their resin bases) for now - I will paint the Gor unit then return to added the final details. Otherwise I will throw the entire unit against the wall and rage-quit!

Since last post I have performed the following:1. Applied Badab Black (Nuln Oil) and Devlan Mud (Angrax Earthshade) to areas of cloth/metal/armor

2. Added lowlight of Red Gore

3. Added highlight of Blood Red

4. Applied highlight of Mithril Silver to metal bits and armor

5. Applied Cathan Brown to areas of ropes/leather/etc..

6. Painted quick outline for standard - will be adding random standards with free-handed designs on them. I will be adding more freehand and detail to the banner but I seriously need to paint something else or I'm going to grow to hate this unit =).

Saturday, April 7, 2012

We of the Wood Elf and Beastmen community are so sorry to hear about what happened to your army with the new book. We are so sorry about the appropriate readjustment ..er.. I mean "nerf" to your already ridiculous access to warmachines. We are so sorry to learn that you not only gained Monstrous Cavalry that have a 1+ armor save but also gained another excellent cavalry unit that's Stubborn to further add amazing synergy with the new units. We are so sorry to learn that your ridiculously low priced core units were raised to appropriate levels and that your generals now provide the Lizardman "Cold-blooded" to their unit for break tests.

We are sorry to learn that your Steamtank is no longer auto-slain by spells like Purple Sun or Pit of Shades. We are also so sorry to learn that your new rare selections have provided you with mobile artillary and augment options that make any close combat army break into a cold sweat. We are so sorry you lost your ability to gain 2 -6 dispel dice or so automatically in a magic phase by virtue of spamming warrior priests. We are also sorry that your detachments gain the benefits/special rules of their parent unit.

We are so sorry that your army became even more balanced and versatile than ever. We are so sorry that you have to rely on intelligence and skill rather than bombarding your opponent from your deployment zone with almost as much artillery as Dwarfs get and gunlines. We are so sorry you gained access to not only dragons but also griffons and pegasi! So sorry that you have now gained so much versatility that you can handle any army! We are so sorry that you can take characters that exist solely to assassinate other characters for cheap. We are also sorry that your new rare selections are just as cheap as your other warmachines yet provided amazing benefits to the army.

It has to really suck to be an empire player right now and have a balanced army....

Friday, April 6, 2012

The third phase of the Deployment Zone’s – Tamurkhan, Throne of Chaos Campaign has come to a close.

The second phase lasted two weeks and during that time there were 37 games reported and 58 participants.In the third phase Tamurkhan forged an unholy alliance with the Legion of Azgorh and their infernal warmachines.The now swollen Chaos horde travelled to the Plain of Bones and battled the ancient Nightmare dragon lord there for dominance over the region.

Both the Chaos and Opposition have scored a win for the past two phases.The Opposition managed to win 17 out of the 37 games reported while Chaos pulled out 20 victories.The Campaign Point total for the phase however was a tie with a score of 61 to 61.This phase was rather unique in that well over 75% of the games played used the Special Scenario: The Crossing of Fire, so there were a lot of high scores in this phase.

2800 point The Crossing of Fire Battle – The Dread Host of Athel Loren vs. Warriors of Chaos

The special scenario was played using an Athel Loren themed Dread Host where a Level 4 Emperor Venom Dragon led an army of Stags, Unicorns, Griffons and Dragons against a Warriors of Chaos list.

The Dread Host of Athel Loren

Level 4 Emperor Venom Dragon – General

2 units of 3 Great Eagles w/ all 3 upgrades

2 units of 4 Royal Unicorns

2 units of 4 Great Stags

1 unit of 5 Deepwood Unicorns

2 Griffons

2 DragonsThe Dread Host of Athel Loren fought a well balanced Warriors of Chaos army and had the upper hand until in the top of the 5th turn the Emperor Dragon was Infernal Gateway’d into oblivion and the Chosen managed to carve up two dragons.The army, having lost all three dragons and both stag units fought well but in the end suffered a defeat when the Griffons and remaining unit of Royal Unicorns couldn’t break the unit of 30 Chosen.

3500 point The Crossing of Fire Battle -Skaven vs. Dwarfs

A Grand Battle of Skaven and Dwarfs was fought in Omaha where a Slayer themed Dwarf army fought a Clan Pestilens themed Skaven list.The Dwarfs won the battle at the end after breaking the back of the Skaven army by destroying both Plague Furnances.

A fire dragon lead army of monsters fought and defeated a fairly brutal Daemons of Chaos army.The Lord of Change and his legion of Pink Horrors and Flamers of Tzeentch could not overcome the fury of a Nightmare Dragon!The game ended at the bottom of turn 6 and it was one of the big Opposition wins that helped tie the phase.

Phase 3 has resulted in a TIE!The final outcome of winning each phase will be released when Phase 5 has completed and the final scenario has been released.

The second part of this post is to outline what the next few months will encompass as far as projects, themes and posts.

The Tamurkhan campaign only has 2 more phases and 6 weeks left til it over.When the campaign has ended, I will hopefully be finished painting the Beastmen army.

This army has not yet been determined; I am considering and biding my time until I find out if they are receiving a new book this year or in 2013.

5. 2000 Warhammer 40k Ulthwe` Eldar – Army reconstruction

I currently possess well over 3500 points of Eldar but I am currently in the process of redoing the entire army.I will not start this project until after both 6th edition Warhammer 40k has been released and the new Eldar codex has been dropped.I currently plan on incorporating several Forge World models that were featured in the Imperial Armour 11: Doom of Mymeara such as the Warp Hunters.

6.2000 Warhammer 40k Eldar Corsair Army

Once I have received the Imperial Armour 11: Doom of Mymeara and both 6th edition and the new elder codex is released I will be also attempted to augment my existing Eldar collection with the new Corsair options to give me an additional Eldar army with a completely different feel and ruleset.

7.Preferred Enemy Compendium -

I would like to flesh out the Preferred Enemy compendium with at least one unit from every army to provide a more comprehensive tactical collection for Wood Elf players.

8.35pt and 75pt Warmachine - Retribution of Scyrah Army

I currently only have 75% of a 35pt army completed and I plan on completing this army using the new Games Workshop paintline.

9.35pt and 75pt Hordes – Circle Orboros Army

I will be assembling and painting a 35-75 pt army of Circle Orboros.I already possess all the models I just need to get off my butt and assemble them.

10.2000 Warhammer 40k Black Templars

I will be adding new units and reconstructing the army in anticipation of the new Black Templar codex and 6th edition 40k.

11.1000 Warhammer 40k Dark Eldar army

I currently possess an unassembled Dark Eldar army that I will be assembling and painting up this year.Having worked on the armor of my Bestigor unit, I have figured out an excellent method of painting the Dark Eldar much like how they were outlined in White Dwarf.

12.1000 Warhammer 40k – Bran Redmaw Space Wolves

Using the Imperial Armour 11: Doom of Mymeara and the current Space Wolves codex; I will be assembling and painting a Bran Redmaw themed …13th company Space Wolves army.This army may not actually exceed 1000 points but I am working rather hard this year on expanding my collection and hobby to be more than just huge sprawling armies but rather multiple armies of varying sizes which can always be expanded upon later.

These are the 12 Labors of John that I will attempt to complete for the remainder of the year.Each of the bullet points should be a topic moving forward and/or an update for the blog.You’ll notice that there is a huge influx of 40k items in the list.I have decided that in order to provide a better podcast it is more reasonable for me to continue to play both games rather than only focus on Warhammer Fantasy.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The Black Fortress loomed in the distance, black smoke belched from it’s depths. Tamurkhan’s vision lead him down the path to this citadel of ash, fire and ruin to forge an alliance with its twisted inhabitants. The black clouds obscured the sun, the belching black smoke creating a dark aura around the tower that seemed to suck the light from the surrounding sky.Astride Bubebolos the Toad Dragon, Tamurkhan lead his plague host deeper into Chaos Dwarf territory until they stood at the entrance to the great castle. The haze of darkness fell and the chaos host found themselves surrounded by an army of black armored dwarves each wielding a wickedly sharp axe and glaring at them with red, hateful eyes.The two armies met and their leaders discussed the benefits of a truce, the chaos dwarves finally convincing Tamurkhan to help them defeat a horrific dragon that had plagued their city for generations.

It was there that the forces of Tamurkhan alongside Lord Drazhoath’s Legion of Azgorh marched on to the Plain of Bones to battle the Dragon Omdra the Dread. This monster of legend had gathered enough power to control every aspect of its nightmarish realm. The combined horde battled the dragon for days until finally the Dragon maddened by blood loss and finally fled the area, burrowing itself deep in theearth to recuperate its wounds. Breaking through the Plain of Bones the horde descended upon the Border Princes…

Scenario Rules for Campaign Phase 4 – The Scouring

Special Scenario: The Tide of Ruin (3 CP to the victor)

The Scenarios: (roll a D6 to determine what battle you play – or you may elect to play the Special scenario instead)

D6 Result

1-3 Hired Swords* (1 CP to the victor – see the Warhammer Rulebook) 4 Loot and Pillage* (1 CP to the victor – see the Warhammer Rulebook)

5 Blood and Glory (2 CP to the victor – fought as a Grand Battle see the Warhammer Rulebook)

6 The Watchtower (2 CP to the victor) - Opposition always starts in control of the Watchtower or a Storm of Magic scenario (2 CP to the victor) as chosen.

* - Narrative scenario from the Warhammer Rulebook

Special Rules: Blood Money:

The Border Princes are filled with unscrupulous killers and hired blades, willing to sell their swords for blood money. As a result, any army in this phase can take on a single unit of mercenary troops if it wishes from its normal points value. Use the rules for Allies found on page 136 of the Warhammer Rulebook to determine what troops are available, with a single Core or Special choice from an army that would be classed as either Trusted or Suspicious ally for your army available. Mercenary units may be used normally but are still subject to the Alignment matrix effects as shown on page 139 of the Warhammer Rulebook.

Victory Effects: Victory effects will be listed when the final scenario is released.

Special Scenario:

The Tide of Ruin

This scenario represents the savage wave of destruction the Chaos horde drove across the Border Princes, where many isolated holdfasts were soon surrounded and beset by a vastly outnumbered force.

Armies: This scenario is for two players. The Chaos Horde represents the Attacker, and the Opposition the Defender. Each player chooses their army list from the Warhammer Army book to an agreed points value, with refrence to the outline of phase 3 of the Throne of Chaos campaign, and the proviso that the Defender's point value should only be 50% of what the Attacker has.

The Battlefield: The table is set up using the rules presented on page 142 of the Warhammer Rulebook, with a bias given towards craggy hills, woods and pools, leaving a 24” x 24” area at the center of the board clear for the movement of scenery.The Defending player may then set up either a hill with a watchtower, a cluster of three small buildings, or a single multi-part building along with 4 6” obstacles anywhere within the central cleared area as they wish.

Deployment: First the Defender sets up their entire army in their central deployment zone. Next, the Attacker sets up their entire army anywhere outside of 12’ of the Defender’s deployment zone.

First Turn: In this scenario the Defender goes first.

Game Length: The game lasts until the defending player is wiped out or has driven entirely out of their initial deployment zone – the game ending as soon as this has occurred, or until the sixth turn has ended.

Victory Conditions: Victory in this scenario depends on how long the Defender manages to last.

1-2Crushing Attacker win.

3-4Attacker Wins

5Defender Wins

6Crushing Defender Win

Scenario Special Rules: Nowhere to Run:The Defenders know that nothing but death awaits them should they flee. While they are within their deployment zone all Defender units gain a +1 bonus to their Leadership, and while outside suffer a -2.

Blood Hungry:

Overwhelmed by bloodlust and the scent of fear from a cornered enemy, all attacking units have the Hatred special rule.

Wrack and Ruin

This scenario uses the Destroying Buildings special rules as found in the Raze and Ruin .

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Before I begin to compile the Tamurkhan Phase 3 results and the Phase 4 scenario, I thought I would toss up a real quick WIP for the block of bestigors I've been working on.
Having primed and basecoated with Scorched Brown and then Tallarn Flesh with an Ogryn Flesh wash followed by Dwarf Flesh highlight and Elf Flesh Highlight here is what we have accomplished.

1. Using Boltgun Metal I basecoated all the areas of metal.

2. I then added the Mecharite Red foundation paint on all areas of armor.

3. I then used Khemri Brown foundation paint on all the areas of cloth and banners followed by the foundation paint Dheneb Stone on all areas of teeth, bone, and weapon wraps and then drybrushed it over the horns.

Next I will begin the wash cycle where I will be applying Badab Black and Devlan Mud in the correct areas followed by highlighting metal with Mithril silver, red armor with Red Gore and then Blazing Orange and finally applying Cathan Brown to the hooves. Then I get to start detail work...oh ...boy....